What's Being Done About the Growing Movement Toward Unleaded Avgas?

Industry associations have been working on its development for piston-powered aircraft for a decade.

Tuesday, February 08, 2022 at 10:09 AM ET

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The use of 100LL in piston-powered airplanes will likely come to an end soon, but the transition needs to be made thoughtfully and with an eye on safety. [Photo: Julie Boatman]

Key Takeaways:

The push to transition from leaded 100LL avgas to unleaded alternatives is intensifying, driven by EPA plans to accelerate lead removal and local airport bans.
While a universal "drop-in" unleaded replacement for all piston engines (especially higher-compression ones) is still in development, promising candidates exist, and 94UL is available for many lower-compression engines.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) stresses the importance of a smooth, safe, and smart transition, advocating for continued 100LL availability during the changeover and educating stakeholders.

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FLYING has followed the progress toward the development and adoption of unleaded avgas for general aviation aircraft since the Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking against the use of leaded fuel in piston engines.

While it appeared that the FAA had gained a reprieve that would allow for the proper timeline for testing a range of fuels, we reported in December and January that a ban on 100LL has now gone into effect at a pair of airports in California—and more appeared ready to follow suit.